VAN HELSING

Van Helsing (2004) –Analysis

The film opens in Transylvania, 1887. The world is plagued by the return of Count Dracula (Richard Roxburgh), who has resurrected from the dead and is now plotting to bring his vampire bride, *Marishka (Josie Maran),* back to life. To stop the looming apocalypse, the Vatican dispatches the legendary monster hunter *Gabriel Van Helsing* (Hugh Jackman), a skilled swordsman and expert in occult lore, to the Carpathian Mountains.

*Meeting the Allies*
Van Helsing teams up with *Anna Valerious* (Kate Beckinsale), the last descendant of a noble Romanian family sworn to protect their land from the undead. Anna is accompanied by her brother *Velkan* (Will Kemp), who is secretly a werewolf cursed by Dracula. Together, they seek the three fangs of Dracula needed to complete Marishka’s resurrection.

*The Journey Begins*
Van Helsing learns that Dracula’s plan hinges on a lunar eclipse that will grant the vampires eternal night. He discovers that the ancient monastery of *St. George* holds a secret device capable of killing Dracula’s kind. While racing against time, the group battles *Dracula’s brides* (including Verona, Marishka, and Aleera), a horde of vampires, and Velkan’s worsening lycanthropy.

*Climactic Confrontation*
In a dramatic showdown atop the castle’s towering clock tower, Van Helsing defeats Dracula by impaling him with the cross-shaped device, causing the vampire lord to dissolve into ash. However, Velkan, now fully transformed into a werewolf, sacrifices himself to save Anna, and Marishka’s resurrection is thwarted.

*Resolution*
With the monsters vanquished, Van Helsing and Anna ride off into the sunrise, leaving behind the cursed lands. The film ends on a hopeful note, hinting that the legacy of Van Helsing’s fight against darkness will endure.

*Themes*
- *Good vs. Evil:* Classic battle between monster hunters and supernatural forces.
- *Sacrifice & Redemption:* Velkan’s transformation and ultimate sacrifice.
- *Faith & Science:* The Vatican’s involvement juxtaposed with occult knowledge.